Quick answer
The African wild dog is a lean, long-legged carnivore of sub-Saharan Africa, famous for its mottled coat of black, tan, and white patches. Weighing 20 to 30 kg and standing about 1.1 m in body length, it is one of the world's most efficient pack hunters, chasing prey at up to 60 km/h. Packs are intensely social and cooperative. With only a few thousand left, the IUCN lists the species as Endangered.
Top questions about the African Wild Dog
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African Wild Dog facts at a glance
- Weight 25 kg
- Length 1.1 m
- Top speed 60 km/h
- Lifespan 11 years
| Scientific name | Lycaon pictus |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore — antelope, warthog, and medium-sized mammals |
| Habitat | Savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa |
| Lifespan | 10–11 years in the wild (longer in captivity) |
| Weight | 20–30 kg (44–66 lb); males slightly larger |
| Top speed | Up to 60 km/h (37 mph) in sustained pursuit |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Canidae |
| Genus | Lycaon |
Where it lives
The african wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is native to Savannas and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa — strongholds in Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; extinct in most of West and North Africa. — recorded across Africa in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a african wild dog?
An adult african wild dog measures 1.1 m long — about 64% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 25 kg, about 36% of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of african wild dogs called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of African Wild Dogs is called a pack.
Baby name
A baby African Wild Dog is called a pup.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Appearance and identity
Also called the painted wolf, the African wild dog wears a unique coat blotched with black, yellow-tan, and white, so no two individuals look alike. It has large, rounded 'satellite-dish' ears that help with hearing and shed heat, a lean frame built for endurance, and only four toes on each foot rather than five. Adults weigh between 20 and 30 kg, with males slightly larger than females. This is Africa's only member of its genus, distinct from wolves, jackals, and domestic dogs.
Hunting and diet
These dogs are carnivores that hunt medium-sized antelope such as impala and kudu, along with warthog and smaller game. Instead of ambushing, they run their prey down in a sustained, coordinated chase, reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h and wearing quarry out over long distances. Their teamwork makes them extraordinarily successful, with hunts often ending in a kill far more reliably than those of lions or hyenas. After a kill, pups are allowed to eat first, an unusual mark of their cooperative nature.
Breeding and pups
Normally only the dominant pair breeds, producing a large litter after a gestation of about 70 days. Litters can be exceptionally big, sometimes exceeding ten pups, which are raised in a den and guarded by the whole pack. Adults returning from a hunt regurgitate meat for the pups and for any pack members that stayed behind. Young dogs remain with the pack to help rear the next generation before some disperse to form new packs.
Why it is endangered
The African wild dog is listed as Endangered, with only a few thousand individuals remaining across a fragmented range. Habitat loss and the break-up of large wild areas force packs into contact with people, leading to conflict with livestock farmers and deaths on roads. They are also highly vulnerable to diseases such as rabies and canine distemper caught from domestic dogs. Because they need vast territories, protecting connected landscapes and wildlife corridors is vital to their survival.
Range and habitat
African wild dogs once roamed across much of the continent but now survive mainly in southern and eastern Africa. They favour savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands where there is room to run down prey. Some of the strongest populations persist in large protected areas such as those in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. Each pack ranges over a huge home area, which is why fragmented habitat hits them so hard.
Dig deeper into the African Wild Dog
- African Wild Dog: Key Facts
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is a highly social carnivore that hunts in coordinated packs across sub-Saharan savannas and woodlands.
- Are African Wild Dogs Endangered?
Are african wild dogs endangered? Status Endangered, main threats, and what protection means.
- How Long Do African Wild Dogs Live?
African Wild Dog lifespan is typically 10–11 years in the wild (longer in captivity). What shortens or extends life, life stages, and status (Endangered).
- What Do African Wild Dogs Eat?
What african wild dogs eat: Carnivore — antelope, warthog, and medium-sized mammals, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa.
- Where Do African Wild Dogs Live?
Where african wild dogs live: Savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, native range cues, and human overlap. Status Endangered.
Explore the African Wild Dog
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Range & geography
Did you know? African Wild Dog facts
- African wild dogs are highly social carnivores that hunt in coordinated packs across sub-Saharan savannas.
- No — they are canids unrelated to hyenas, with a different social structure and hunting style.
- Litters of 6–16 pups are raised communally by the entire pack.
- Conservation: Endangered.
Diet & feeding
African Wild Dog feeds primarily as a antelope and medium-sized mammals. Wild dogs communicate during chases with squeaks and tail signals, exhausting prey through endurance running.
Adaptations
- Wild dogs communicate during chases with squeaks and tail signals, exhausting prey through endurance running.
- Fewer than 7,000 adults remain — habitat loss and conflict with humans threaten packs.
Behaviour & ecology
- Wild dogs communicate during chases with squeaks and tail signals, exhausting prey through endurance running.
- Fewer than 7,000 adults remain — habitat loss and conflict with humans threaten packs.
Communication
- African Wild Dog uses scent, posture, and vocal signals to mark territory and coordinate social behaviour.
- Communication intensity often peaks during breeding seasons and territorial disputes.
Habitat & range
African savannas and grasslands
Ecological role
African Wild Dog plays a recognised ecological role in african savannas and grasslands.
Conservation status of the African Wild Dog
The african wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Endangered (EN) means a species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Populations are usually declining sharply due to habitat loss, hunting, disease, or climate pressure. It sits one level below Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Main threats to the african wild dog
- Habitat fragmentation
- Human–wildlife conflict
- Infectious disease from domestic dogs
- Road mortality and snaring
African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2020. View the full IUCN assessment .
Frequently asked questions about the African Wild Dog
Are African wild dogs actually dogs?
African wild dogs belong to the dog family, Canidae, but they are not closely related to domestic dogs and cannot interbreed with them. They are the only living species in the genus Lycaon, set apart by having just four toes on each foot instead of five.
How fast can an African wild dog run?
African wild dogs can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph) and, crucially, sustain a fast pace over long distances. This endurance lets them wear down prey in extended chases rather than relying on a short ambush.
Why are African wild dogs endangered?
They are Endangered mainly because of habitat loss, conflict with farmers, road deaths, and diseases such as rabies and distemper spread by domestic dogs. Because each pack needs a very large territory, the break-up of wild landscapes is especially damaging.
How successful are African wild dogs at hunting?
African wild dogs are among the most successful large predators in Africa, with a high proportion of their coordinated hunts ending in a kill. Their success comes from teamwork and stamina rather than raw power or surprise.
Why do African wild dogs sneeze?
Researchers have found that packs use sneezes as a kind of vote when deciding whether to leave a resting spot and hunt. If enough dogs sneeze during their social greeting rituals, the pack sets off, so the sneezes act as a group decision.
How long do African wild dogs live?
In the wild, African wild dogs usually live about 10 to 11 years. Individuals in captivity, safe from disease, predators, and vehicles, can live somewhat longer.
What is a group of african wild dogs called?
A group of African Wild Dogs is called a pack.
What is a baby african wild dog called?
A baby African Wild Dog is called a pup.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the African Wild Dog:
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IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Endangered) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Lycaon pictus, most recently assessed in 2020.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Lycaon pictus. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
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GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Lycaon pictus. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
- IUCN Red List — Lycaon pictus.
Conservation status (Endangered) and population trends.
- Animal Diversity Web — Lycaon pictus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Life history, morphology, and range.
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